Coin-controlled mechanism for prepayment meters.



Patented Aug. 20, IOOI. W. W. MARLAND & E. LARGE.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR PREPAYMENT METERS.

2 Shaets-$heet l.

1 0 9 1 2 1 r a M d e 1 O n o a c p n. M

9 JANO IIYVENTORS Patnted Au 20, won. w. W.'MARLAND & E. LARGE. COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR PREPAYWIEM METERS.

(Applicafion filed Mar. 12, 1901.)

2 SheetsSheet 2.

INVENTOH-S.

(No Model.)

JAZZQ'W 7% ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

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WILLIAM WVYLIE MARLAND AND EDWARD LARGE, OF OLDHAM, ENGLAND.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR PREPAYMENT METERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,875, dated August 20, 1901.

Application filed March 12, 1901. Serial No 50,786. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we,W1LL1AM WYLIE MAR- LAND and EDWARD LARGE, subjects of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, and residents of Oldham, near Manchester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechanism for Use with Prepayment Gas and Like Meters, set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates chiefly to prepayment gas-meters, and has for its object to provide mechanism which will allow of the use of several values of coins, so that the consumer may pay for a supply of gas, which at the time may be most convenient in lieu of having to always pay for the same amount, or instead of the meter being fitted with coincontrolled mechanism which only allows of one value of coin being used andnecessitates a change of mechanism for another value of coin this invention provides for the necessary change in value without any alteration whatever in the mechanism.

A further feature of the invention is that for each value of coin the supply of gas is readily variable to the price of gas, and the pressure of the gas helps in keeping the control-valve closed after the supply paid for has been consumed.

On the accompanying drawings We illustrate the salient features of our invention and as adapted for use with three values of coins.

On Sheet 1, Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of the improved apparatus with portions of the outer casing re moved to show the invention more clearly. Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate important details in elevation viewed from the right-hand end, Fig. 4 ,and left-hand end, Fig. 3, of the apparatus, the views being taken on the right and left of line a b. On Sheet 2, Fig. 5 is a repeat plan (in part) of the right-hand end of the apparatus and in contrast to Figs. 1 and 2, which show the parts in the position they occupy previous to payment for and after consumption of the gas, shows the parts in the position they occupy after payment and during consumption. Fig. .6 illustrates a side and part-sectional plan of the chief parts of our invention collectively, and Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 illustrate such parts in exterior plan separately. Figs. 13, 14, and 15 illustrate transverse sections of the devices as adapted for operation by, say, a dollar and demonstrating three positions that certain of such devices occupy when operated by the aid of a coin for obtaining a supply of gas.

According to our invention we employ a metal shell or casing 1, by preference similar in form to a stepped pulley and the steps corresponding in number to the different values of coins to be used. Such casing is fixed in any suitable manner to end supports 2 and 3, which in turn are arranged, by preference, as near as possible to the gas-inlet valve 4. In the several steps we form slots 5 6 7 and 5 6 and 7 corresponding, respectively, to the size of one of the coins to be used. Oon centrically within such casing we arrange a bush 8, having steps 9 10 11, one end projecting through and taking its bearing in plate 2 and the other end projecting through and taking its-bearing in plate 3. In each step of the bush 8 we form a cavity or recess 12 for the reception of a coin. Fitting neatly and loosely between the outer casing 1 and the several steps of the said bush 8 We fit annular rings 13 14 15, and in the diametrically opposite sides of such rings we provide slots 16 16 corresponding, respectively, in size to the slots 5 6 7 and 5 6 and 7 in the easing 1. To the ring 13 we connect a gearwheel 17, tothe ring 14 a toothed rim 18, and to the ring 15 a small gear-wheel 19. (See Figs. 8, 9, and 10.) Alongside the casing l and parallel with the bush 8, also supported by the plates 2 and 3, we arrange a shaft 20, and upon such shaft We mount the gear or toothed wheels 21, 22, and 23. The wheel 18 on the ring gears with the Wheel 22 via an intermediate pinion 22 carried axially on the side of the casing 1. (See Fig. 12.) Also alongside and parallel with the casing 1 is a further shaft 24, supported by the plates 2 3. This shaft for almost its entire length is hollow and provided interior-1y with a screwthread. Loosely mounted upon its exterior are gear-wheels 25, 26, and 27. Fast upon such shaft are also ratchet-wheels 28 .and 29, and upon each wheel 25 26 27 is a pawl 30, held in play with the teeth of the adjacent ratchet-wheel by a spring 31. The wheel 17 gears with the wheel 27, the wheel 21 gears with wheel 26, and the wheel 19 gears with wheel25. Screwingintotheinteriorly-screwthreaded shaft 24 at one end and at the other end passing through a square hole in bush 32, supported in fixed uprights 33, is a rod 34, and the end which passes through bush 32 is of square or rectangular cross-section. Keyed upon or part of bush 32 is a crownwheel 33 and gearing with such crown-wheel is a pinion 34 identified with a worm-wheel 35 and worm 36, driven by a shaft 37, leading from the indicator mechanism of the meter. Adjacent to the square end of the rod 34 and upon a stud 38 is a bell-crank or twoarmed lever having a slotted arm 39 and a solid arm 40. The free end of this latter engages with the stem 4 of the gas-inlet valve 4, and the arm 39 engages by its slot with a pin or stud 41 on the rod 34.

Iuclosing all the mechanism before described is a locked lid or casing m, in which are slots so :0 marked with the values of the coins they are intended to receive and lying directly over or opposite the slots 5 6 7 in the casing 1. Upon the shaft end of bush 8 (outside the casing) is a hand-wheel or knob 42.

The normal position of all the parts previous to paying for a supply of gas is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the slots 5, 6, and 7 in the casing 1 and those in the rings 13, 14, and and bush 8 all facing upward and directly under each othera condition of things insured partly by a series of spring-held friction-pawls 43, which project through openings in the casing 1 and press into notches 44 in rings 13 14 15, and partly bya stop-pin 45 on the shaft end of the bush 8 coming against ashoulder on an upstanding bracket 46. (See Fig. 6.) Upon a coin of predetermined Value and size being inserted into, say, the slot 7 it falls into the cavity 12 of the bush 8, and such cavity being slightly shallower than the diameter of the coin causes the coin to protrude above or beyond the periphery of the step 11 and lie partly in the slot 16 of the ring 15. (See Fig. 13.) With the coin thus situated the bush 8 is rotated (see Fig. 14) by means of the hand-wheel or knob 42 for half a revolution, or until the cavity 12 is inverted, and the coin falls out of such cavity through slots 16 and 7 into an inclosed cash-box 45 to the bush 8 is in turn imparted via the gearwheels 19 25, ratchet-wheel 28, and pawl (See Figs. 1 and 15.) The motion thus imparted and occupy, say, theposition shown in Fig. 5. With the gas flowing through the meter in the ordinary manner and the worm-wheel 36 receiving motion from the meter indicating or like mechanism as and at the rate the gas is consumed the crown-wheel 33 is slowly rotated in a direction which causes the rod 34 to gradually retire out of the hollow shaft 24 and carry the stud 41 back again to the farther end of the slot 39 where by pressing against the lever it causes such lever to move on its pivot and close the valve 4, at which time. the quantity of gas consumed is equal to the quantity paid for. To obtain another and like supply of gas, the handwheel 42, and with it the bush 8 and its bosses, is rotated back to the startingpoint, and the cavities are again brought beneath the slots 5 6 7; but as such motion has no effect on any of the rings 13 14 15 each ring remains stationary, with the slot 16 of the ring 15 up per-most. A further and like coin being inserted in slot 7, the operation aforesaid may be repeated and the same supply of gas obtained.

.Upon inserting a coin of greater value in slot 5 it falls into the cavity of boss 9, and upon such boss being rotated by hand-wheel 42 it rotates the ring 13 until it has made a halfrevolution and delivered the coin into the cash-box through slots 16 and 5 The motion thereby imparted is in turn imparted to the hollow shaft 24 via gear-wheels 17 and 27 and, rotating such shaft, causes the screwthreaded rod 34 to travel into the said shaft to an extent proportionally greater than the extent to which it traveled into the coin of lesser value aforesaid. With such increased travel of the rod 34 the stud 41 travels a correspondingly greater distance along the slot 39 Therefore with the gas being consumed and the wheel 33 traveling the rod 34 and stud 41 back to the starting-point at the same rate as the coin of lesser value the longer time occupied by the stud in reaching the farther end of the slot allows for the delivery of the increased quantity of gas paid for. When reaching the end of the slot the stud 41 then moves the lever on its pivot and closes the Valve. Upon inserting a coin of another and greater value in slot 6 it falls into the cavity of boss 10, which on being rotated rotates the ring 14 until the coin-drops out into the box 45. Such motion is imparted to the shaft 24 Via toothed rim 18, pinion 22 gear-wheels 22, 21, and 26, and the speed value of the last member of such train of wheels being greater than the speed value of the last member of the trains of wheels aforesaid the rod 34 is traveled into the shaft 24 to an extent which brings the stud 41 to the end or almost to the end of the slot 39 so that on such stud being traveled back by the wheel 33 the time occupied in reaching the farther end of the slot is greater than the time occupied with the other coins,

and thereby allows of the delivery of the greater supply of gas paid for.

It will now be readily apparent that by pro ICO viding a slotted casing, a slotted ring, a bush with cavity, and gear-wheels for each a considerable number of different values of coins may be used and corresponding values of gas be obtained. In practice we findit is sufficient to provide only for three values of coins, as illustrated. The length of the slotted arm or lever 39 is such as to allow of the traverse of stud 41 necessarry for the greatest value of coin used.

While in the foregoing arrangement the coin of intermediate size is designed to give the greatest supply of gas and the largest coin give the smallest supply, we may by varying the speed values of the several trains of wheels or the sizes of the rings 13 14 15 and bush. 8 allow or cause the larger coin to give the greater and the smaller coin to give the lesser supply of gas, the speed value being varied to suit the value of coin.

When a change in the price of gas takes place, the wheel 35 is substituted for a larger or smaller wheel and the worm is adjusted to suit by screw 47. The gas-inlet valve 4 is held open against the flow of gas. Hence on closing the action is assisted by the gas. With the lever 39 normally in the position shown in Fig. 2 it will be observed that the forward traverse of the stud 41 serves to open the valve.

By the use of pawls 48 it will be seen that after a coin has been inserted and the bosses and rings have once been started they cannot be rotated back again until the coin has dropped into the cash-box.

What we claim is- 1. The combination with a meter having a valve, and a device for opening said valve, of a casing having a series of coin-receiving slots, a shaft with means for turning the same, aseries of rings mounted on said shaft, means for coupling said shaft and rings by a coin, means interposed between each ring and said valve-opening device for operating the latter, said valve being adapted to be coupled to either of said rings to turn in unison with the same.

2. The combination with a gas-meter having a valve and a device for opening the same,

of a series of rings having openings adapted to receive coins of different sizes, means interposed between the rings and said device for operating the latter, and a shaft with means for operating the same, said shaft hav ing a series of openings proportioned to and in alinement with the openings in the ring, whereby a coin of the proper size may be made to couple said shaft to either of said rings, each of said rings through said interposed mechanism giving said valve a different movement in an equal movement of the shaft, substantially as described.

3. In prepayment meters, a slotted stepped casing, a stepped bush within the casing hav ing a cavity in each step, rings surrounding such bosses having slots, a hollow screwthreaded shaft, gear-wheels and means interposed between the wheels and rings for imparting the motion of each ring to the said shaft, a screw-threaded rod screwing into said shaft at one end and having a square portion at the other end, a bush and gear-wheel with square opening in the bush through which the square portion of the said rod passes, a stud on such rod, a slotted and pivoted lever with which such stud engages, and means for allowing the rotation of the gear-wheels in one direction only, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In combination a gasmeter having a valve, a pivoted device for operating the latter, a series of rings, a shifting device for giving said device variant movement for equal movements of the rings, a shaft common to all the rings and supporting the same, a series of coin-pockets in said shaft, one for each ring, each ring having a coin-slot corresponding to and adapted to aline with its coacting slot, said shaft being adapted to be coupled to either of said rings by the insertion of a proper coin, and means for rotating the shaft.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM WYLIE MARLAND. EDWARD LARGE. Witnesses:

WALTER GUNN, GEO. 11. Focus. 

